Obituary of Soledad Matteson

Soledad Bautista Matteson was born, November 8th, 1949 in the provincial region Bulacan in the central Luzon area of the Philippines. Born Soledad Alonzo Bautista to Father Melencio Bautista, who was a fisherman by trade and mother Dolores Alonso Bautista, a stay at home mother. Growing up in the Philippines, Solly only reached the grade level of the 8th grade, as she had to help provide for the family, that included sisters Rosalinda Bautista, Leticia Bautista Chan, Ligaya Bautista Pascual, Amelia Bautista Ugalde and her only brother Jamie (Toto) Bautista and her very close cousin whom she called brother Kenneth Bautista (Junior).As a young adult she was working as a server at Clark Air Base in the Philippines, and that is where she met her soon to be husband Kenneth Nickerson Matteson Jr. of Chatham, (Cape Cod) Massachusetts. Kenneth N. Matteson Jr was a Security Police Officer for the Air Force and often attended dinner workshops and meetings with their Civilian Police counter parts. On one night Kenneth was attending such a dinner with his civilian police friend and his attention was caught by the server; Soledad. Not knowing the other police was a relative, Kenneth asked to be introduced, and asked if the other officer would be a translator. The other officer agreed to do so, as he finally informed Kenneth that they were related and he would kill him if he hurt her, and not long after, they were married. They traveled around being stationed in Philippines, then Texas, then Guam, then North Dakota, then back to Philippines, all the while growing their family with children Michelle Helen Matteson Wallin, Kenneth Nickerson Matteson III, Gordan Earl Matteson (Jack), Rowena Lynne Matteson and Rochelle Lynne Matteson Nieman, and finally ending their Military life at MacDill AFB Tampa, Florida where Kenneth Nickerson Matteson Jr. retired as a Chief Master Sergeant. During that time at MacDill AFB, Solly decided to enter the work force part time as a bagger at the Commissary. Not long after that, she was offered a job at the base dining hall, where she started as a cook and retired as the Head Supervisor for the civilian side of the Dining Hall operations. In Solly’s time off she enjoyed Crochet and watching her kids in sport activities. As the kids grew, her time became devoted to her grandchildren and later even her great grandchildren. Soledad sadly passed away from complications with COVID-19 on August 17th, 2021 in Saint Petersburg, Florida. She is survived by her Sister In Law Betsy Matteson Crowell and Mark Crowell of Maine, her sisters Rosalinda Bautista, Leticia Bautista Chan,  Ligaya Bautista Pascual, Amelia Bautista Ugalde, and Kenneth Bautista, all of whom reside in the Philippines. Her children Michelle Hellen Matteson Wallin, Kenneth Nickerson Matteson III, Gordan Earl Matteson (Jack), Rowena Lynne Matteson, and Rochelle Lynne Matteson Nieman. Her grandchildren Christine Isabel Sanchez, Sarah Christine Matteson, Elizabeth Soledad Sanchez, Kenneth Nickerson Matteson IV, Garrett Liam Parker, Matthew Scott Eliason, Abigail Nieman, Emily Nieman, Jack Wallin, her Great grandchildren Caylee Cioffi, Garren Gruendler , Mason Hite, Arian Hite, and her children’s Spouses Chris Wallin, Veronica Matteson, Greg Nieman, Bryan Hite as well as many cousins, nieces and nephews and extended families around the world. Soledad Bautista Matteson was an Angel on this earth and will be an Angel in Heaven where she can now be with her Husband, her Mom and Dad and Brother, Her In Laws and her Family and friends who have passed away.